Jose Reyes has $96 million remaining on his contract. / Steve Mitchell, US Presswire

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

Less than a year after committing nearly $200 million to free agents in an effort to generate buzz for their publicly funded stadium, the Miami Marlins have blown up their roster in stunning fashion.

They are shipping $106 million shortstop Jose Reyes, staff ace Josh Johnson and $58 million starter Mark Buehrle to the Toronto Blue Jays in a blockbuster trade involving 12 players, an official from each team familiar with the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The persons spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized.

The trade continues a massive retreat from the Marlins one year after they appeared to announce their arrival as significant players in the National League, timed to the opening of their stadium in Little Havana. Including a parking structure, the stadium cost approximately $634 million to construct.

Including an earlier trade of Heath Bell, the Marlins will have shed $186 million in future salaries this offseason. Counting the $50.5 million in salary due infielders Hanley Ramirez and Omar Infante - who were traded at midseason - the Marlins have dumped $236 million in future salaries since July.

But its inaugural year played host to a disastrous 69-93 season, followed by the firing of manager Ozzie Guillen. And now a fire sale of epic proportions:

Closer Heath Bell, given a three-year, $27 million deal before 2012, was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-way deal with $18 million left on his contract.

Johnson, their staff ace the past several years, will make $13.75 million in 2013 and then be eligible for free agency.

Reyes' $106 million contract is heavily backloaded, and he's due to earn $96 million over the final five years of his deal.

Buehrle made $6 million last season and is due $52 million the last three years of the deal.

Buck is due $6 million in 2013.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, showed they are jumping feet-first into the American League East fray.